Project description
A social boost to combat energy poverty
The fight against energy poverty hinges on the successful engagement of regional and public authorities. In this context, the EU-funded POWER UP project will support cities’ efforts to plan and sustain the creation of local energy players with a social agenda. Teaming up with energy-poor households and local stakeholders (cities, social organisations, energy and utilities companies and citizen energy communities), the project will develop six pilot schemes across Europe – from Belgium and the Netherlands to Italy and North Macedonia. Its overall aim is to develop and strengthen local energy market players and share experience to facilitate replication in more countries. Before its end in 2025, the project expects to spark investments worth more than EUR 2.5m and secure the involvement of more than 55 588 energy-poor consumers.
Objective
Regional and local public authorities have a strong role to play in fighting energy poverty. That is why the overall objective of POWER UP! is for cities to go beyond their planning role and sustain the creation of local energy market players with a social agenda. This will be realised by the following 3 specific objectives:
- Implement pilot schemes for households in energy poverty, so that they benefit from renewable energy production and energy efficiency measures, without having to bear the financial risks;
- Develop and reinforce local energy market players with a social agenda, based on a long-term perspective to acquire local knowledge and strengthen the local economy;
- Disseminate the experience of the consortium members to facilitate the replication in European countries.
Five pilot schemes will be developed in five locations across Europe: Eeklo (Belgium), Heerlen (the Netherlands), in the Campania area (Italy), in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm (Czech Republic), and Valencia (Spain).
These schemes will be co-created with energy-poor households and local stakeholders (cities, social organisations, energy utilities, citizen energy communities etc.), leading to at least 2,5 Million EUR investment in sustainable energy before the project ends and involving 55 838 energy poor consumers. Supported by a European city network, a leading UK university, a Belgium cooperative and finance experts, the consortium will build the capacity of more than 185 people in local organisations. This will allow these players to either provide cheap energy to fuel poor households, or reinvesting benefits to carry out energy poverty mitigation measures.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
25000 BESANCON
France